Shooting we-self in we foot

My heart goes out to the relatives of Cally Joseph, especially his six-year-ole son and three-year-ole daughter; Cally was gunned down, shot eight times last Fry-dey night, he didn’t have ah chance ah survival.

How do we begin to explain to these two innocent children, at such ah tender age, dat daddy is gone forever. In these terrible times ah does remind me-self dat God is not asleep.{{more}}

No one will go unpunished foh de smallest crime. And if dat was not enough shooting, one night after, Jennifer Lewis, ah teacher from de UK wid Vincy roots, was shot and killed at her home at Prospect/Belvedere. Ah read Dr Bernard Mills’ comments in Kenton Chance’s, I-Witness News report on de murder.

Mills knew Jeniffer only by seeing her from time to time at the old cotton storage house at Frenches, across the street from Mills’ home. She worked dey as an Artisan/Artist at a pottery development program, and from his observations, Mills said he was touched by Jennifer’s passion and dedication for her work, always focused at her craft.

We have certainly lost ah good soul. But de humane side ah Jennifer Lewis was dat she gave up her profession in England to come to SVG, to care for her parents obviously senior citizens. So wid one bullet, dat killer not only took Jennifer’s life, s/he took away her mother’s life-blood, dey care-giver; and put ah bullet as well in de Pottery Development Program, way young people are being trained to better dem-selves.

Dat killer literally killed three birds wid one shot and in de process shot dis country in de foot. In situations like these, we tend to panic and point fingers hey, dey and every wey. Heaven knows Commissioner Me-Law tries, but ah chain is as ‘strong or weak’ as dat bad link. People tend to remain tight-lip when it comes to providing valuable info to de Police, because dey don’t have confidence in our Police. Lie-Za is saying she wants to see ah small committee ah decent citizens to whom people can give info, who in turn will relay dat info to de Police, but she not dealing wid no Police directly.

Ah sincerely hope and pray dat dey catch de murderers who stole away Cally from his two kids, and Jennifer from her bereaved parents and students.

50 YEARS AND QUITE CONTENT

George and Norma Howard celebrated their big day on Wednesday, fifty years ah loving. Ah don’t know Mrs Howard as well as ah know George. We go way back to my stint as President ah de PSU, back den it was de CSA, George was one ah dem aggressive shop steward, he was good foh de Union. But knowing George how he strong headed and difficult to handle, ah could safely say dat his wife Norma is ah good woman dat deserve ah golden crown!

De Howard’s children hosted ah sumptuous dinner for dey parents; nice food by Caterer, Dawn Smith, oh boy de mutton and fish was delicious. De bar solid as Howard Driving School, George’s creation.

Singer Andy Cruickshank who ah was hearing live foh de first time, accompanied himself on piano; pulled out all de oldie goldie around, de young man got real talent. And den dey was Saeed Bowman, SVG next big hope in music. Eleven year ole Saeed, ah student ah de Local Maestro, Ashley Kirby, plays the tenor pan, he truly entertained de appreciative audience, mostly intermediate and senior citizens, all faithful and loyal friends ah de Howards over the many years. It’s mid-night and ah have to catch-up on some sleep, GHS Graduation tomorrow and my 16-year-ole graduating. All now so, ah have ah sticking plaster pon me nose to keep it from swelling up too big.

And wid dat is gone ah gone again.

One Love Bassy.

Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.